Shelton Benjamin earned his way into the Casino Gauntlet Match at AEW Full Gearbut the win came with an awkward moment that left fans questioning what went wrong.
On the November 19 joint episode of AEW Dynamite and Collision, Benjamin squared off against Speedball Mike Bailey in a fast-paced match for the #2 entry spot in the Gauntlet. Both men delivered a strong showing. Bailey opened with his trademark speed and high-flying offense, targeting Benjamin with stiff kicks, arm holds, and multiple near-fallsincluding a clean shooting star press.
Benjamin weathered the storm with power-based counters, including a brutal slam on the outside and a thunderous superkick that turned the tide of the match. But that superkick may have done more than just shift momentumit may have rocked Bailey harder than expected.
Moments later, Benjamin covered Bailey, and the referee made a full three-count. The problem? Bailey didnt kick out. The two competitors then appeared to improvise, continuing the match with an additional exchange that saw Benjamin land a German suplex and a second superkick for what was treated as the official finish.
Despite the hiccup, the result is official: Shelton Benjamin advances to Full Gear as the #2 entrant in the Casino Gauntlet, joining Hurt Syndicate ally Bobby Lashley, who claimed the #1 spot earlier in the night by defeating Ricochet.
Benjamin celebrated the win with MVP post-match, but the incident sparked conversation among fans online, many of whom speculated that Bailey was momentarily knocked off course by the kick and simply didnt kick out in time.
Accidents happen in pro wrestling, especially when the action is this physicalbut this one might go down as one of the most talked-about moments heading into AEW Full Gear.
Do you think Mike Bailey was legitimately rocked by Sheltons kick, or was the miscue just bad timing? Should AEW acknowledge the botch or move on? Let us know what you think in the comments.
